Niseko Now: Monday 14th February 2022
- Feb 14, 2022
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2025
Independent snow and weather reporting from the Niseko region of Hokkaido
New snowfall at base 15cm
Snowfall at base this season 895cm
Posted on Monday 14th February 2022 This is an archived report. The latest Niseko Now report can be found here
Good morning from Niseko.
I have some decent snowfall to report to you this morning. Just a short while back I measured 15cm, so there should be a very nice new layer to enjoy out there this morning. Looks like the next few days is going to bring us a mix of cloud, light snow at times and maybe a bit of sun at times. Wind should not be a problem. For the moment it's cloudy and snowing at times - coming down at quite a rate just now in some places. That probably won't last and it doesn't feel particularly cold out there this morning.
The long weekend is now over and so we are back to normal weekday operations. That means that the Holiday lift at Hirafu and the Jumbo 3 lift at Annupuri are taking a rest.
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It's Valentines Day, that most traditional of Japanese customs, dating right back to the Edo period when... oh, hold on, I might have got that wrong.
Anyway, ladies, don't forget to hand out loads of chocolate to pretty much everyone. (Even some you don't like, like your boss. Save the nicer chocolate for guys you like). Blokes will need to do similar on 14th March for the reciprocal 'White Day'... yet another Japanese custom steeped in tradition and rituals, also dating back to the Edo period. Maybe.
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Niseko Avalanche Report
Moiwa base: -5℃, 15cm low pressure snow in the last 12hrs. Moiwa 800m: -7 ℃, NNW7-10m/s, 15cm new snow in last 12hrs, minor snowdrift development. Annupuri 1150m: -8℃, N10m/s, 15cm new snow, snowdrift development. Hirafu 1250m, -13℃, NE12m/s, 15cm new snow, snowdrift development. Benkei Cape NE9m/s. Cape Kamui; NNE4m/s, 1019hPa, wave 0.9m.
Above 800m there has been some slow snowdrift development from wind and snow caused by a low pressure passing overnight. At dawn 15cm of low pressure snow had fallen. From observation and data the general avalanche risk is low.
From the effects of the NE wind and snow plastering the upper mountain, there is a moderately high avalanche risk around 1200m on wind crusted and scored SE slopes like Kozan no Sawa side wall. If the crust breaks and avalanches on a steep slope it will take you away with it. Use caution. Snow in the forest is partially reset and good. All gates are expected to be open. Please listen to the Patrol's advice before exiting the gates. Niseko respects your freedom to ride out of bounds, but at the same time is concerned about everyone's safety. Please respect Niseko Rules. Be careful falling into cracks. Enjoy today but be careful.
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Planned ski area operations: Monday 14th February 2022
The below snow depth and snowfall data is manually checked each morning from official sources.
Lift information is the planned operations for the day (nature might intervene).
Niseko Grand Hirafu
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 390cm (+15cm)
- Base: 220cm (-10cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 20cm
- Base: 20cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Ace Family quad
- Ace Number 2 Center Four quad [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Hirafu Gondola
- King Number 3 quad
- King Number 4
- Swinging Monkey
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Niseko HANAZONO Resort
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 337cm (+2cm)
- Base: 257cm (+2cm)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 10cm
- Base: 10cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Hanazono Number 1
- Hanazono Number 2 quad
- Hanazono Number 3 quad
- Hanazono Symphony Gondola [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
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Niseko Annupuri
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 310cm (no change)
- Base: 220cm (no change)
Official 24 hours snowfall (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 5cm
- Base: 5cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Annupuri Gondola
- Dream Number 1 quad
- Jumbo Number 1 quad [* open for night skiing until 7:30pm]
- Jumbo Number 2 pair
- Jumbo Number 4 pair
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Niseko Village
Official snow depth (reported by the ski area):
- Peak: 290cm
- Base: 220cm
Planned lift operations (subject to weather conditions):
- Niseko Gondola
- Village Express
- Community Chair [* open for night skiing until 7:00pm]
- Banzai Chair
- Wonderland Chair
Niseko Now 2021-2022 season |
Data as of Monday 14th February 2022 Total snowfall at base so far 895cm Number of days snowfall observed at base 71 days Most snowfall observed in 1 day 40cm (23rd December) November 2021 snowfall 85cm reported on 6 days December 2021 snowfall 307cm reported on 23 days January 2022 snowfall 325cm reported on 30 days February 2022 snowfall 178cm reported on 12 days |
All snowfall data presented on this page is the snowfall measured and observed at base/town level by our reporter based in Kutchan/Niseko. The 'new snowfall' number represents the amount of snow measured since the previous report. All opinions are those of the individual reporters. Information regarding ski area operations is manually checked every morning and is believed to be correct at the time of the report.